THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 30, 19 May 1947, Page 6

THE "GOOD ENDEAVOUR" LEAGUE

What ho, what ho, ma hearties. Well here we are back again. How do you like the weather we have been having lately? The pets don’t think much of it I’m afraid. Peterkin claimed the only hot water bottle in the cave and of course Butinsky thought he would go one better. He tried to heat up a brick in the oven but only succeeded in burning his nose. His beard got singed a lovely brown. I curled up in my hammock and kept our great big fire in the cave going so I was quite warm. The pets finally curled up beside the fire but Peterkin would not part with his hot water bottle. I’m pleased to say Butinsky has very nearly got rid of his cold too. I got out my old sail making needle and made him a smart new coat and he is very proud of it. It keeps him lovely and warm. Cheerio until next week. P.T.W. THE TWINS’ FIRST MOUSE Only two of Fluff’s kittens were thought good enough to live. They were the twins and ever after Mrs Fluff Cat used to frighten them by saying, “Now be good or I’ll call George to drown you too!” (She only said that when they were very bad though). Purr was a lovely grey persian and Fluff was the colour of orange marmalade with a few grey stripes. One morning the twins went out for a walk. Suddenly there was a rustle in. the grass and out popped a foolish mouse. “Head him off!” cried Purr.

Purr ran round and just managed to get the mouse by its tail. “Got him—botheration he’s , got away!” Purr sprang, seized the mouse and held it tightly. Ten minutes later two kittens, dusty and hot but triumphant, walked up the path towards the house singing as they went: Our first, first mouse, Our best, best mouse, We’d find no better, If we searched , the house. —Original, Margaret Mahy. MY LETTER BOX Margaret Mahy: Yes Margaret it was very careless of you to forget your name. The story is very good and I hope to see some more of your work oh our page. I’m sure the crew will enjoy reading about Purr and Puff. P.T.W. Doreen Hughes: About that pen friend of yours Lass. Do you want a boy or a girl and how old do you want this pen friend to be? Let me know and I’ll soon find one for you. P.T.W.

OUR STORY THE NEW SKIPPING ROPE Louise whirled her new skipping rope over her head. Up and down the front walk she skipped until she was tired. Then she sat down on the porch steps to rest. It seemed queer to be playing alone, she thought. Jean and Betty lived in the same block, and the three girls usually played together. They had come to her house that morning, and when they saw the new skipping rope they asked if they might use it. “No, I will not let you use it,” Louise told them. “I shook the money out of my own bank'so that I could buy the rope. You might step on it with your muddy shoes and get it dirty.” She felt rested a little, so. she started to skip down the walk again. Betty and Jean were at Betty’s house. She could hear them although she could not see them!. They were laughing about something and seemed to be having a good time. It made Louise feel a little lonely so she skipped down the street. Suddenly,’ she heard the patter of feet, and something bumped into her and almost knocked her down! It was a fat, black puppy, and he got tangled in her skipping rope. Louise grabed him and held him in her arms.

Betty and Jean came running down the walk as fast as they could. “Oh, I’m so glad that you caught him!” Betty cried breathlessly. “He belongs to Billy. He must have gotten out of his pen and then tried to run away. Jean and I tried to take him back but we couldn’t carry him and he wouldn’t follow us. Billy always fastens a rope to his collar

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when he takes him for a walk, but we haven’t any. Do you have one we could borrow, Louise?”

Louise shook her head. “I don’t believe I have any,” she answered. She had looked everywhere for a rope before she bought her skipping rope.

“The puppy ran out into the street once, and a car almost hit him,” Jean said.

Suddenly Louise knew what she must do. “We can use my skipping rope,” she said. “It is the only rope I have.”

“Your new skipping rope?” asked Betty in surprise. “Yes,” answered Louise. “Will you help me fasten it to the puppy’s collar?”

When the rope was fastened she said, “Will you please wait while I run to tell Mother where I am going.” Soon she was back, and the girls took turns leading the little, black dog. They had a lot of fun. When they came to Billy’s house they saw him sitting on the front steps looking very sad. But he didn’t look sad long. “Oh, where did you find my dog?” he asked.

The girls told him all about it. “Thank you very much for bringing him back,” said Billy happily. “Won’t you come into my house?” Billy’s mother was glad to have the puppy home again, too. She gave the children some cake and milk. The fat black puppy had some milk too and lapped it up as though he enjoyed every drop.

Louise did not play on her own after that. Jean, Betty, Billy, Louise and the little puppy were the best of friends and always played together.

A LONG STORY Little Rosa, who had not long recovered from whooping cough, was taken to the zoo as a treat. She gazed feelingly at the tall giraffe. “I am glad I am not a giraffe, Mummy,” she said, “just think what a long way he has to cough.” LESS TALK, MORE DO The old fable of the young bear who was puzzled to know how to walk, has a suggestion for humans. Said the young bear to his mother: “How can I learn to walk? Shall I move my right paw first, or the left? Or my two front paws together, or the two hind paws? Or all four paws at once?”

“Leave off .talking about it, and walk!” grunted the old bear.

CAN ALL ANIMALS SWIM? Nearly all animals, though few ofthe necessity aires, though few often show that they can do so. The tiger, for example, is not usually regarded as a swimmer, but he has been known to cross not only rivers, but an" arm of the sea a mile wide in the Singapore Strait. Elephants are well known swimmers, and cross the mile-wide Brahmaputra; a kangaroo was known to swim two miles to the sea; and even hares and rabbits will take to the water if it is absolutely necessary. A study of the subject seems to lead to the conclusion that all animals have inherited the ability to swim. TRY SAYING THESE Bill had a bill board; Bill also had a board bill. The board bill bored Bill, so Bill sold his bill board to pay his board Bill, and then the board bill no longer bored Bill. But Bill had no bill board, see? A boxer Lett, once bought a pet, A kangaroo, called Letter-box; The kangaroo, a boxer, too, Disliked to see a letter-box; The boxer Lett-let Letter-box Go out and box the letter-box. Two gardeners were arguing about their beet. At last one said: “My beet that beat your beet that beat my other beet, is now beaten by the beet that beats all beets. Even the first beet, your beet, that beat my beet, or my beet that beat your beet that beat my first e beet; in fact, this beet beats all beet that have ever beaten any beet!”